Celtic are reported to have won the race to sign Derry City winger Niall McGinn, a player the Blues watched throughout the Irish season. McGinn, 21, is set to put pen to paper a three-and-a-half-year deal in January for a fee which will rise to £200,000 after top-ups.

Town were first reported to be watching the highly-rated McGinn in August and again in October. Chelsea were also monitoring the former Dungannon Swifts player.

Meanwhile, Blue Square Premier side Lewes have revealed that Town are one of a number of clubs interested in schoolboy midfielder David Wheeler.

Lewes reached the third round of the FA Youth Cup this season and several of their players are attracting interest from bigger clubs.

Right-sided Wheeler, who is not yet contracted to Lewes as he is still at school, and team-mate Ryan Storrie have been invited for a trial at Southampton. Fulham are also said to be interested in Wheeler, while Arsenal, Charlton and Watford have been spotted at the Dripping Pan's Youth Cup ties this season.

Closer to home, boss Jim Magilton says he is yet to make a poor signing since becoming Town manager: "I have never made a bad signing.

"Maybe the players have not settled or whatever, but I have never made a bad signing.”

The Blues boss says Iván Campo remains a valuable member of his squad despite his lack of recent action: "Even though he has not played, he has had a massive influence on those that have.

"He has been brilliant in the way he goes about his business. He is not playing at the moment because the other lads are doing well.

"Campo is part of my plans. I would not have brought him in otherwise. There is no issue with him and he is training every day.”

Campo is one of 14 players out of contract at the end of the season, having signed a one-year deal in the summer rather than the two-year terms widely reported at time. The others are Alex Bruce, Dan Harding, Chris Casement, Dean Bowditch, Liam Trotter, Kurt Robinson, Matt Richards, Billy Clarke, Richard Naylor, Tommy Miller, Shane Supple, Jai Reason and Ed Upson.

None of those players has yet been offered a new deal and several of them could leave during January with the Blues keen to reduce the size of the squad.

Alex Bruce's situation remains fluid with Derek Bowden recently telling TWTD that the defender, suspended for the next four games, may still be offered a deal by Town, despite no agreement regarding new terms having been reached with his agent up to now. Manager Magilton has reiterated that he will consider offers which come in for the Irish international during the transfer window.

The Town boss says he is as yet undecided whether he will sign loan midfielder Darren Ambrose permanently: "I don't know yet, we will see in January. Ambrose is versatile and I brought him here to add competition.

"I want to see more from Ambrose and the more games he has, the better he will be.”

The Town squad will go off to Dublin for their Christmas party after today's game with Cardiff City.

Photo: Action Images

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